Associated Press to be SLUR-free, Says Good-bye to Using the Term “Homophobia”!

RKR News (RoadKillRadio.com)

The Associated Press is following the lead of Roadkill Radio’s own Kari Simpson by nixing the slur “homophobia” and a number of other terms from its Style Book in recent months.

AP’s online Style Book now says that “-phobia” is “an irrational, uncontrollable fear, often a form of mental illness” and should not be used “in political or social contexts,” including “homophobia” and “Islamophobia.” It also calls “ethnic cleansing” a “euphemism”, and says the AP “does not use ‘ethnic cleansing’ on its own. It must be enclosed in quotes, attributed and explained.”

AP Deputy Standards Editor Dave Minthorn was quoted as stating “Homophobia especially – it’s just off the mark. It’s ascribing a mental disability to someone, and suggests a knowledge that we don’t have. It seems inaccurate. Instead, we would use something more neutral: anti-gay, or some such, if we had reason to believe that was the case.”

“We want to be precise and accurate and neutral in our phrasing,” he said.

The changes made to the online Style Book will appear in next year’s printed edition.

RoadKill Radio was one of the first media campaigners to start confronting those who relied on this slur, a slur used typically to denigrate those who would not be bullied into the sex activist political agenda.  The campaign began after RoadKill Radio host Kari Simpson attended a meeting at the Vancouver School Board and was appalled by the sex activist rhetoric being used by students and certain school trustees.  Simpson immediately sent a letter to Patti Bacchus, Chair of the Vancouver School Board and a vocal supporter of students engaging in activities sponsored by the Queer Film Festival.  In it, Simpson wrote:

I was disappointed and offended to see you allowed hateful and contemptuous slurs being used that night: slurs made by trustees, teachers, students and PAC representatives. The terms “homophobe”, “homophobic” and “homophobia” are well-known hateful words, typically rooted in bigotry or ignorance and used to target, demean and bully into silence and compliance individuals and/or groups opposed to the public dissemination of false and propagandist information related to homosexuality and other allegedly “fluid” sexual determinations.

Simpson didn’t stop there.  Next in her sights was then BC Education Minister George Abbott.  In her letter she demanded change and that government officials cease using slurs.  It had an effect.  Simpson says that the use of terms like “homophobia” has been dramatically reduced since.

Simpson is pleased with the news about AP and admits she has been instrumental in providing “corporate America” with information about the tactics of sex activists.  She refers to a recent victory with VIMEO over complaints made by a militant homosexual activist.  “The situation Mr. Flanders presented to us has not only served to educate some of the top legal firms and media outlets in the United States and Canada but also the courts about how sex activist use unsubstantiated terms, lies and threats to get their way.”